The news about these spin-off, stand alone films based in the Star Wars universe but not necessarily related to the continuation of the saga has been coming in at dizzying speeds. First there was the pretty solid rumor we’d soon see a Yoda stand alone flick, then came the confirmation from Disney‘s Bob Iger they were indeed planning spin-off features. Today, Entertainment Weekly broke the news we can expect two more characters to get the stand alone film treatment: Han Solo and Boba Fett.

And I believe what you just heard was a collective, explosive, fangasm.

Can you believe it!? Han Solo. Boba Fett. Starring in their very own movies! Seriously, this isn’t a dream is it? Or some really convincing fanfiction?

EW explains the two proposed projects as, “A young Han Solo saga, focusing on the wisecracking smuggler’s origin story, and a bounty hunter adventure with Boba Fett at the center of a rogue’s gallery of galactic scum.” It’s… it’s… all we could ever ask for!

Both projects are still in the super, duper early development stage so any details here could change without notice. The Han Solo picture is said to take place between Episodes III and IV, while the Boba Fett one either between Episodes IV and V, or V and VI. Placing these films within the time frame of the original trilogy allows other major characters, like Darth Vader and Jabba the Hutt, to also make appearances. And were these films to happen I think we can all agree an appearance from one, if not both, is almost guaranteed.

When confirming these spin-off features as the real deal, Iger mentioned Simon Kinberg and Lawrence Kasdan were each working on one of them, but now we wonder, which ones? A Solo or Fett film from either would simply be the best thing ever. Who would you choose for which? And come to think of it, the more pressing question here is who to cast as a young Han Solo!? Would Harrison Ford make an appearance? Maybe in a sort of framing sequence, like EW suggests? What about Fett? Would they seek new talent or tap Temuera Morrison again? Who directs these flicks? Gah! So many questions!

Okay, be honest, is this the best news you’ve heard today, or best news you’ll hear ever? I mean, Han Solo AND a Boba Fett movies!! Be still my fangirl heart!

Source: /Film

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Earlier today we reported that Lucasfilm and Disney were planning a standalone Yoda film to play counterpart to the J.J. Abrams‘ helmed Star Wars Episode VII. It was, and remains, a rumor, but Disney CEO Robert Iger in an appearance on CNBC today confirmed that Disney is in the process of developing several standalone movies that will be made in conjunction with the new trilogy, and be released between pictures.

“I can confirm to you today that in fact we are working on a few standalone films,” said Iger. “Larry Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are both working on films derived from great Star Wars characters that are not part of the overall saga. We still plan to make Star Wars 7, 8, and 9 roughly over a six-year period of time, starting in 2015. But there are going to be a few other films released in that period, too.”

So which characters are screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg developing into their own feature film? “I’m going to leave it to Kathy [Kennedy] and the LucasFilm team [to reveal details],” Iger added. So much for the direct approach. But at least it confirms the plausibility of a Yoda standalone film, and maybe the plausibility of that rumored Boba Fett movie 1313. In addition, Iger added that Abrams himself will act as a consultant for the other Star Wars films.

Obviously, more news as it develops.

Watch the full video interview with Iger below:

Source: /Film

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Ever since the news of more Star Wars films broke we’ve all wondered about the possibility of stand alone, or spinoff features. A Han Solo flick , for instance, has been an especially popular one. But today, Ain’t It Cool News has the exclusive scoop it’s Yoda starring in the first spinoff, non-saga, Star Wars film. Harry Knowles reports,

To start with they’re going to focus on established characters and do solo films, no, not necessarily Han Solo films, but well, fuck it…   The first Stand Alone film is going to center upon Yoda… I’m wildly curious for more details on the YODA film – would this be a young or old YODA tale?

A film centering on Yoda opens plenty of opportunity. We could see his beginning, the early years on wherever the hell he’s from. Or, his years as a young Jedi, maybe his first padawan. Something other than his years spent on Dagobah.

Bleeding Cool adds they had learned of a list of possible characters for stand alone films, and Yoda was on it. So were Jabba, Boba Fett, Chewbacca, and Darth Maul, and if you’ll notice, each of these characters can easily avoid featuring the original actor. Which kind of has me worried about the odds we’ll see Frank Oz’s involvement in a Yoda feature. And I’m sure we can definitely count out a return to puppet-Yoda, it’ll of course be CGI-Yoda. Though I’m curious is there’s a possibility we’ll see them utilize some version of motion capture technology.

Are you surprised they’d choose to explore a Yoda story before anyone else? What’s the likely hood this film would be a theatrical release? Think we’ll see this before or after Episode VII?

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Back when the rebirth of Star Wars was announced the date 2015 was heralded as Episode VII‘s release, with a new Star Wars movie – theatrical and not –  to come every year after. That may no longer be the case since J.J. Abrams was chosen to direct. In the official statement naming Abrams director no date was mentioned. And at this point, a 2015 release date sounds dangerously close for a film who’s only now picked its man in charge.

This wouldn’t be the first time Abrams has pushed a film back, either. Star Trek Into Darkness was originally slated for this past summer but is now releasing in May with what is likely a better, no longer rushed, sequel. And with Into Darkness not yet released I’m sure Abrams isn’t over Star Trek and will need a breather before he moves on to Star Wars. It’ll only be better for us in long run if we let Abrams take his pretty time. Do you remember the prequels? Do you!?!

And also, as Cinema Blend points out, 2015 is already chocked full of Marvel’s The Avengers 2, Pirates of the Caribbean 5, a possible Justice League movie, and The Fantastic Four reboot, so we’re not hurting for lack of summer blockbusters.

When do you think we’ll see Abrams’ Episode VII hit theatres?

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More info yet on what will probably be the biggest Nerd news story of the year–if not the decade (that is, until Disney finds a director for Episode VIII….at which point we’ll go through all of this nonsense again).

As everyone except the Mole People are already aware, J.J. Abrams: Star Trek rebooter and creator of Lost and Fringe has been tapped to helm the announced seventh installment of the Star Wars franchise.

Abrams was asked about the project by E! Online at the Producer’s Guild of America Awards (where Abrams was being honored with the Norman Lear Award)–specifically, they wanted the skinny on whether or not the original cast would be returning….This was Abrams’ response:

“It really is an incredible thing, It’s wildly surreal. It’s obviously way too early to talk specifics, but I’m excited to actually start it.”

In other words, he either doesn’t know or isn’t at liberty to say.

His statement last night to Huffington Post was equally lacking in information–but more heartfelt:

“I can just say what I want to do: I want to do the fans proud. I want to make sure the story is something that touches people. And we’re just getting started. I’m very excited.”

Abrams’ take on the SW universe is due out on an unspecified date in 2015. Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt is on board to write the screenplay. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Bad Robot, and Kathleen Kennedy will produce–with Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg consulting.

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If any of you care, our news and opinion coverage about JJ Abrams getting the Star Wars: Episode 7 directing gig proved that we (and the rest of the internet) are psychics.

Just moments ago, via internet machines and fingers on buttons, the world learned via press release and Facebook posting that the frozen head of Walt Disney had nodded in the affirmative and George Lucas had stopped counting his money long enough to give his blessing for JJ Abrams to be the guy whose work he will someday digitize out of existence*.

Here’s the plaid-clad all father of the Ewok race:

“I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller.  He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.” – George Lucas

Not to be outdone in the bland statement department, Abrams had this to say about getting the job of a lifetime until 10 years from now when Disney reboots the whole damn thing:

“To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

So, in closing: you already knew this and this was the most pointless thing I’ve ever written, which means this will forever stand as a truffle within a vast wasteland of shit.

Source: Mistakenly sent emails that were supposed to go to only respectable journalists

*=Fuck you, I know Lucas sold any and all rights to modify future Star Wars movies, it was a joke! By the way, if you’re wondering why there were no lens flare jokes in this post, this is why…

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J.J. Abrams seemed like he didn’t want anything to do with Star Wars: Episode 7 because of his love for it, a love he never had for that other space-based franchise before he breathed new life into it, but reports from both Deadline and The Wrap are indicating that the Lost co-creator and Star Trek helmer may, in fact, be changing his tune and gearing up to throw himself headlong into a galaxy far far away.  (more…)

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Samuel L. Jackson, (Mr. Jackson if you’re nasty), is throwing his hat into the Star Wars VII ring. He recently talked with E! News about his desire to remain associated with the franchise he loves.

“I’m not surprised but totally geeked by the idea of there being more Star Wars. It’s like, okay, Obi-Wan was dead when episode four started, so maybe everyone thinks I’m dead and we’ll find out what happened to Mace Windu. I can come back as one-armed or a one-handed Jedi that’s still around that didn’t actually die.”

“I could do that or be a ghost hologram. I don’t care, I just want to stay associated with the franchise.”

“I just always loved it. I always loved the idea of it, that there’s this whole civilization out there somewhere else that’s just as much fun and different and diverse and wild as we are.” 

What do you think? We never really saw the body so there’s plenty of wiggle room to bring Mace Windu back. We saw Anakin fall through the speeder filled sky of Coruscant, so it’s not a stretch to see a Jedi Master like Mace Windu save himself as easily.

Star Wars VII is scheduled for release in 2015.

Via: Comingsoon

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What we don’t know about the upcoming Star Wars movies far outweighs what we do know. For instance, we know Micheal Arndt is writing Episode VII. We don’t who’s directing, though there’s been more rumors today it’s Matthew Vaughn. We also know Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg have been tapped to write for these new Star Wars movies. Up until now most assumed these would be the following movies of the trilogy, Episode VIII and Episode IX. Not the case according to The Hollywood Reporter.

They were the first to confirm Kasdan and Kinberg had been signed to write, and now their reporting those movies could be further “Episodes” down the line, say maybe Episode X or XI. Or possibly spinoff movies set within that galaxy far, far away as this line from the article indicates,

Their scripts could turn into official “Episodes” in the main Skywalker storyline, or they could form the basis for spinoffs focusing on side characters.

By now you might be wondering why I have Lando up there, gracing the top of this post. Spinoffs, guys! We could get movies about the lesser characters of the Star Wars universe! I like this idea that Germain Lussier of /Film proposes,

Then, in 2017, instead of seeing the next film in the trilogy, we get a spin-off film – something like the young Han Solo story. That could feature Solo as a teenager, how he came to smuggling, the card game where he won the Millenium Falcon, the Kessel Run, why Chewbacca has a life debt to him, and it ends as he walks into a cantina in Mos Eisley.

I like how this guy’s thinking. It’s the perfect direction for new Star Wars movies because there’s so much they could explore. Why not a Lando movie? How about a Boba Fett flick? I’m sure that’d drive the fans wild!

What kind of movies do you want see come of this Disney/Lucasfilm partnership?

Source: /Film

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There’s no end in sight when it comes to rumors and speculation about who will end up in the director’s chair for the, as yet untitled, Star Wars VII. There’s a lot of hats being thrown into the ring and sometimes it’s not even the director in question doing the throwing.

Jason Flemying was doing some red carpet interviewing the other night at the premiere of Seven Psychopaths and (In response) talked about the possibility that Mathhew Vaughn might get the director gig.

**(When you watch the video please note that it is the INTERVIEWER who originates the thought and brings up the possibility that Vaughn would get the directing job and not Flemyng, he just answers the interviewers question.)**

Everyone wants to connect the dots of Vaughn’s exit from X-Men: Days of Future Past to the announcement of Disney‘s purchase of Lucas Films and that Star Wars VII, VIII, & IX would be made. Now it seems that even someone just answering a question about a possibility put to them is confirming the rumor itself. At least at other sites talking about this.

Maybe it’s just me but that’s the way I saw this whole thing. Flemyng is not dropping hints, confirming, or letting slip anything here except that if Vaughn were to get the job, Flemyng would love to be involved. Who wouldn’t at this stage? Anyone cast in a major part would be assured years of work in the future.

What role might Flemyng play in the Star Wars Universe?

Via: BleedingCool

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